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DRESS CODE


DRESS CODE

Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas and Local 1298, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case Nos. 00 FSIP 62 and 69, May 31, 2000 (Release No. 432).

The AGENCY proposed the following:

Non-uniformed staff are to be dressed appropriately for a professional setting. Some examples of clothing that would not be considered appropriate for staff to wear inside the institution include shorts, sleeveless shirts, see-through clothing, jeans of any color, sandals, and athletic shoes. Any necessary exceptions to these requirements should be approved by your immediate supervisor.

Essentially, the UNION proposed "that the status quo be maintained, i.e., non-uniformed bargaining-unit employees not subject to a dress code should continue to be permitted to wear denim jeans and/or athletic shoes."

The PANEL ordered the parties to adopt the UNION's proposal.


DRESS CODE . . . UNIFORMS . . . SHIRT SLEEVE LENGTH

Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Service, Washington, D.C. and National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 00 FSIP 135, November 6, 2000 (Release No. 436).

Essentially, the AGENCY proposed that--

1. Customs inspectors working at the same ports of entry should wear Customs uniforms with the same sleeve length at the same time.

2. Through local negotiations, each location would determine which Customs uniform would be worn for what function. However, "no mixing of short sleeve with long sleeve uniforms during specified times would be authorized at any port."

The UNION proposed that the parties maintain the status quo, i.e., "that local Union representatives continue to negotiate over the extent to which individual employees will be able to decide for themselves whether to wear a long or short sleeve shirt on a particular day."

The PANEL ordered the parties to adopt the UNION's proposal.


DRESS CODE . . . UNIFORM SHIRTS . . . LONGEVITY HASH MARKS

Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Service, Washington, D.C. and National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 00 FSIP 135, November 6, 2000 (Release No. 436).

The AGENCY proposed the following:

Longevity hash marks are required on long sleeve Class 1, 2 and 3 uniform shirts. Hash marks will indicate [five]-year increments of uniformed U.S. Customs service. The Agency will issue each full time inspector, Canine Enforcement Officer and Seized Property Specialist 12 longevity hash marks to affect this change. Employees will be reimbursed locally for the alteration expenses associated with affixing these items to the long sleeve shirts.

The UNION proposed that the parties maintain the status quo, i.e., inspectors be allowed to wear hash marks on a voluntary basis.

The PANEL ordered the parties to adopt the UNION's proposal.


DRESS CODE . . . DRESS DOWN/CASUAL FRIDAYS

Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. and Local 3620, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 26, AFL-CIO, Case No. 00 FSIP 142, December 20, 2000 (Release No. 437).

The AGENCY proposed to "include in the dress code policy examples of attire that are 'considered too casual and thus not acceptable for the office: sweat suits, shorts, jeans, sneakers, Spandex, T-shirts, clothing with slogans, tank or halter tops, and clothing that are faded, torn, dirty or provocative.'"

Additionally, it proposed that--

Supervisors may approve exceptions to permit the wearing of jeans and sneakers on Friday's only in appropriate circumstances, e.g., during an office move. Otherwise, sneakers are not to be worn in the office during the normal work day unless medically necessary.

The Agency maintained, also, that it had not duty to bargain over the Union's proposal "'...because there is no decision from the FLRA finding a duty to bargain on substantively identical facts.'"

The UNION proposed that employees be allowed to wear casual attire (including jeans and sneakers) on "'dress down/casual Fridays,' unless they are required to make court appearances or perform other duties requiring 'business-like' dress."

The PANEL ordered the AGENCY to maintain the status quo while the Union appeals "the [Agency's] allegation that it has not duty to bargain over the Union's proposal."

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Last Modified August 27, 2001